Archaeologists from North Carolina State University, working alongside the Cyprus Department of Antiquities, have unearthed a significant section of a prehistoric cemetery at the Makounta Voules/Mersinoudia site in the Paphos district. The discovery, officially reported in May 2026, features a variety of rock-cut burial pits dating to the Chalcolithic period (3900–2500 BCE).
The excavation revealed three distinct types of graves, ranging from small circular pits to larger chambers. Despite modern agricultural disturbances in the area, researchers successfully recovered several intact offerings, including unique copper spirals and jewelry made of quartz, shell, and picrolite. These findings provide vital comparative data for understanding burial social organization in relation to other major sites like Souskiou.
